A really solid first effort for Playland. This game has the strong possibility of evolving into a very good series. Level design is mostly solid. Production values are suitably high, if not up to the work that Valve and id are doing these days. Weapon choice is varied. And best of all, the game has some character.

The game is much more accessible and deeper at the same time, but doesn’t force too much simplicity or complexity on anyone. In those regards, it’s perfect.

Doesn’t live up to its illustrious predecessors. So many changes has cost the game its identity.

As long as you realize you're buying a John Woo shootout sim and not a story-driven narrative with lots of cool weapons, locations, characters, and multiplayer longevity, Max Payne 2 won't be a disappointment.

The brightest point about all this, is that if Microsoft wants to spend the money, all of these problems can be patched away. A better chat interface is easy – even color-coding messages would help tremendously. Co-op is a long-term project but not impossible.

Black Cactus has crafted a game that is just different enough for mainstream RTSers to appreciate, while adding things like a unique and involving storyline and intelligent adversaries for those who don't want to play the same old thing.

It's not that there's all that much terribly wrong with Breakthrough, it's more that there’s nothing all-that-right right about it.

Raven has done a fantastic job honing in on the strengths of Jedi Outcast and eliminating its weaknesses. Shoddy, confusing, and dull level design has been dropped for a succession of catchy, focused missions that carry you along for hours.

I utterly hated the singleplayer aspect but enjoyed the multiplayer.

The only thing really missing from Ghost Master is the wow factor. There's no feeling of ever being overwhelmed with how cool the game is, nor do you 'wake up' from a Ghost Master marathon at 6am and realize you have to shower for work, because there's no chance of having a Ghost Master marathon.

Manages to fix the balance problems that crept up in WarCraft III, but is unable to fix the fundamental problem. The game remains at an uncomfortable middle-ground between strategy and tactics, not giving enough of either or focusing explicitly on one.

For all the attempts to make the world lively, the world map has shown what a dreadfully static place the archipelago is. AI ships float around randomly, making no attempt to even look like they’re even trying to run trade routes.

Just keep in mind that this isn’t "Baldur’s Gate," that the focus of play is far removed from the tactical combat mechanics of yore, and that you’re mostly adventuring solo.

The adventure is too buried under the business sim, which is a bit too inelegant for its own good, and the strategy is hobbled by a really lame combat system. At least it's better than Bethesda's recent "Pirates of the Caribbean."

The first multiplayer game to make me completely abandon "Battlefield." In fact I haven’t played a multiplayer shooter so much since "Quake" and "Tribes."

It’s a great recreation of the old Marvel comic book to which geeks like myself will quickly warm, and the best use of a movie license in at least a couple of years.

There is a lot to be said for the city-centric game design, the intricate unit balancing, the smart AI, and the catchy, quickie action, although there isn’t anything here to make the jaded sit up and shout.

Vehicles, weapons, bases, and factions are all inter-woven into a system of balanced and sophisticated combat, even if it does feel like fighting for fighting’s sake.

While everything does slow down in Focus mode, you appear to be in multiple places at the same time, and the camera can’t handle this. It jerks all over the place, inducing first frustration, then nausea, and finally “Who the hell cares?” as you give up and click the punch and kick buttons as fast as possible while pushing the mouse all over the place.

Best of all, Vice City isn’t quite what we expect from a PC game today. It doesn’t fit neatly into any genre, so a freshness factor makes gunning down cops and knocking over banks seem even more innovative and new.

A good game needs at least some combination of competent AI, level design, atmosphere, animation, technical stability, or gameplay, all of which are conspicuously lacking here.

Easily the best 4X game right now and the best that we’ll see for years to come. The AI of this spectacular title alone will keep gamers talking long after its moment in the spotlight is over.

It's got almost enough gameplay to rival "Battlefield 1942" as the definitive team-based action game, but with a much smoother, more ambitious, and ultimately more effective engine.

A solid entry in the series but doesn’t really advance it meaningfully in any way. Indeed, in some ways – the brevity of the campaign, the so-so missions – it’s a step back from previous games.

It looks great and it’s thoroughly immersive, as long as you stay in your ship.

Part of the problem is the glitchy tech and part of the problem is the inconsistent and frustrating gameplay. But the biggest problem is that there are so many better games with more personality, better level design, better weapons, better spying, and better shooting.

Provides the ultimate combat flying experience, and no perfect place to play it. The dynamic campaign may be good, but it’s not compelling. The multiplayer venue is hampered by a factious community, and terrible matchmaking interface.

Like "Quake," it’s not just a game that you get better at the more you play it – it's a game that gets better for you as you learn to understand the intricacies.